s.

"Hist! not a sound," he said. "The people sleep lightly; come with me."

He took my hand in his and led me out boldly past a black who was lying
a short distance from my hut, and then right across the broad opening
surrounded by the natives' dwellings, and then through a grove of trees
to a large hut standing by itself.

He pressed my hand hard and led me through the wide opening into what
seemed to be a blacker darkness, which did not, however, trouble him,
for he stepped out boldly, and then I heard a muttering growl which I
recognised directly.

"Hush, Jimmy!" I whispered, throwing myself upon my knees. "Don't
speak."

"Jimmy not a go to speak um," he said softly. "Mass Joe come a top."

"Go," said my companion. "Go quick. I want to help--I--the fever--my
head--help."

There was another pause, and on stretching out my hand I found that my
guide was pressing his to his forehead once again.

"He has lived this savage life so long that he cannot think," I felt as,
taking his hand, I led him to the opening, through which he passed in
silence, and with Jimmy walking close behind he led us between a couple
more huts, and then for a good hour between tall trees so close together
that we threaded our way with difficulty.

My companion did not speak, and at last the silence grew so painful that
I asked him how long it would be before daybreak.

"Hush!" he said. "Listen! They have found out."

He finished in an excited way, repeating hastily some native words
before stooping to listen, when, to my dismay, plainly enough in the
silence of the night came the angry murmur of voices, and this probably
meant pursuit--perhaps capture, and then death.

CHAPTER THIRTY.

HOW I TALKED WITH MY NEW FRIEND.

As I heard the sound of the pursuit a horrible sensation of dread came
over me. I felt that we must be taken, and, in addition, vague ideas of
trouble and bloodshed floated through my brain, with memories of the
fight in the gorge, and I shuddered at the idea of there being more
people slain.

The effect was different upon Jimmy, the distant cries seeming to excite
him. He stopped every now and then to jump from the ground and strike
the nearest tree a tremendous blow with a waddy he had obtained from our
guide.

The latter checked him, though, laying a hand upon his arm as he said to
me, after listening intently:

"You don't want to fight. These people are too strong. You must
escape."

"Bu